MerrimentA mare and foal run next to the surf on Assateague Island in this companion print to Serenity​

​Merriment​by Ellen Rice

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At just about any time of year, if you visit Assateague Island just off the southern tip of Ocean City, Maryland, you will be able to see and perhaps even be greeted by the island's mysterious hoofed inhabitants.

Made famous by Margaret Henry's children's book, Misty of Chincoteague, the ponies are everything you may have read about and perhaps just a little more.

They're crooks! Thieves! And very pushy about getting what they want - your food!

On any given summer day, it's not unusual to see ponies wandering around tourists' beach blankets snuffling through their beach bags and begging for food. It's not normal for a horse or pony to want junk food, but once they've had a taste of it, they're as hooked as any human.

There are signs everywhere saying not to feed them. This is for good reason. Both people and animals can get hurt. Human food is not good for ponies, and the ponies in play are a lot rougher than your neighborhood dog. When they reach in your car window to munch some of your food or approach your picnic table with a gleam in your eyes, be wary. It's possible they could take a little nip out of you or one of your loved ones while endeavoring to procure your lunch.

The ponies hang out everywhere, the picnic grounds, the parking lots, the beach. It's a whole lot of fun to watch them frolic. Be sure to bring a camera (and bug spray) when you go there.

My favorite scenes are those of mother and foal, and this is what I've captured, plus just a little bit more, in my oil painting, Merriment. If you put your imagination to work and look at this painting long enough you may just see ponies everywhere, particularly places you don't expect to see them.

Enjoy some merriment with this little painting, a favorite among mothers and grandmothers decorating for their horse loving children. And don't forget to actually visit this wonderful place when you're in the region. Assateague Island is one of the last unspoiled beaches in the Mid-Atlantic. It's sister island, Chincoteague, is just a short ride away.